phrawgh:I hope that evil bastard is roasting in Hell while Mother Theresa pegs him with a 13 inch (purple) strap on. I sincerely hope he has to listen to the lamentations rising from the nearby Pit of Pregnant Popes for all eternity.

Trolling a Mr. Roger's thread? It's okay, he wouldn't get upset. He'd just ask to talk about the things which make you angry.

A flash mob of people walking into a public place, changing out of loafers into sneakers, pulling a cardigan out of their backpack and donning it, then breaking out into a rousing rendition of "Won't You Be My Neighbor" would be epic.

I grew up in Pittsburgh, and there was a girl at my high school who literally lived in his neighborhood, just down the street. Apparently he was one of the guys who didn't hand out candy on Halloween and pretended he wasn't home (to be fair, if he did imagine the mobs that would go trick or treating at his house), and he went for a walk every day at 6pm with an umbrella and a flashlight regardless of the weather or time of year.

On a more personal level, I always thought Mister Rogers was the best example I've ever seen for what people claim Jesus preached. Just one of those people who makes you wish there is a heaven not for yourself but so they could be there.

/ it's such a good feeling to know you're alive!// I still find myself singing that one some lovely mornings

I know he's been dead for quite awhile though, but I really didn't wanna type something really long mentioning how he was one of the few geniunely good people in the world. He was a minister, but never preached it on his show or tried to convert people to it. He spoke of the idea that everyone was special, no matter who they were. It's just sad that kids born after 2001 don't get to grow up with such a great role model like Mr. Rogers. He's dearly missed in this day and age.

Happy Birthday to the man who changed the world through being a kind and loving neighbor. May he rest in peace. Love you from the bottom of my heart Mr. Rogers. You were my childhood hero and icon that I look up to as I grow older each year.

Seems as if only one other farker (and myself) were scared shiatless of this guy and his menagerie of creepy puppets. When I was a little girl, Id watch a little bit of the intro and stuff, but as soon as that toy train came around to go to that creepy land of make believe or whatever the crap it was, I changed the channel! That being said, as an adult I can now appreciate the show more knowing he was just a gentle soft spoken man who wanted to spread love...wait...thats creepy too...oh man...forget it.

I met David Newell, who played Mr. McFeely, and had the chance to chat with him a bit back in the 90's. He confirmed everything good that's been said about Fred Rogers; that he was one of the most kind people ever, and one who was genuinely concerned about the well-being of everyone he knew. Mr. Rogers will always be a hero to me.

kumanoki:FirstNationalBastard: Tallman: Want to do something to celebrate Mr. Rogers' birthday? Let's try to make it an official holiday.

No way.

Think about it... would Mister Rogers want a holiday for himself?

No.

That is a true.

If it got people to be nicer to each other, then I don't think he'd mind. Of course, he'd be the first to suggest "Be a Good Neighbor Day" (assuming StateFarm didn't object - free advertising, right?) as an alternative name, but as long as the intentions were made crystal clear (and it wasn't just a holiday about him), he'd be cool.

// and apart from Mr T, what other real-life person's nom de guerre is "Mister"?// shows you what kind of respect he commands

phrawgh:I hope that evil bastard is roasting in Hell while Mother Theresa pegs him with a 13 inch (purple) strap on. I sincerely hope he has to listen to the lamentations rising from the nearby Pit of Pregnant Popes for all eternity.

ryant123:JBKMDX: I'm just giving you shiat for giving me shiat. I realize my first message might seem like I was some idiot who had no idiot he'd been dead for so long.

I wasn't giving you shiat either. And I didn't think you were an idiot since, you know, the whole thread is about today being Mr. Rogers birthday. I just think Ned might take issue with characterizing Mr. Rogers as the best neighbor ever.

Wow, completely missed that. I'd argue that Wilson from Home Improvement is a MUCH better neighbor than Flanders though.

WhyteRaven74:Dusk-You-n-Me: In 1969, Fred Rogers appeared before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications. His goal was to support funding for PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in response to significant proposed cuts by President Nixon.

And he went back to DC to testify against legislation that would have in effect killed VCRs. I

I just wish he had testified in the PMRC hearings, because the combination of Mister Rogers, Frank Zappa, Dee Snider, and John Denver would have been maybe the greatest assemblage in modern history.

WhyteRaven74:Dusk-You-n-Me: In 1969, Fred Rogers appeared before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications. His goal was to support funding for PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in response to significant proposed cuts by President Nixon.

And he went back to DC to testify against legislation that would have in effect killed VCRs. I

Yup. Mr. Rogers stood up for time-shifting! He is one of the reasons you can use a DVR today.

I'm a 31 year old man, and I still cannot listen to the Mr. Rogers remix without tearing up for some reason.I and my siblings grew up watching that show, and it wasn't until I was an adult that I realized the absolute value of it.The guy was a living Saint. As a kid I had no idea he was a minister, he was that non-preachy.

My kids will be watching it, whether it's on TV, or I have to drive to PBS and shove money in their faces until they print out a DVD for me.

phrawgh:t3knomanser: phrawgh: I hope that evil bastard is roasting in Hell while Mother Theresa pegs him with a 13 inch (purple) strap on. I sincerely hope he has to listen to the lamentations rising from the nearby Pit of Pregnant Popes for all eternity.

Trolling a Mr. Roger's thread? It's okay, he wouldn't get upset. He'd just ask to talk about the things which make you angry.

Born: Latrobe, PennsylvaniaDied: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

He sure didn't go far in life.

Enough said.

And if you ever came to Pittsburgh, you'd see a memorial to him at the airport, at the children's museum, and at the PBS studio where he filmed the show. But I'm sure you have changed as many lives as he did, and I'm sure when you die, they'll put up more memorials to you, right?

In 1969, Fred Rogers appeared before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Communications. His goal was to support funding for PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, in response to significant proposed cuts by President Nixon.

I hate this fad of celebrating people's birthdays after they are dead. Birthdays are for commemorating annual increments of a person's life. You don't wish a 'happy birthday' to the dead. They are dead, and so cannot receive your well-wishes.

It should be a "Mr./Mrs./etc So-and-so Day" instead, where the happiness is wished upon the living who fondly remember the good deeds of the honored dead.